Utility Safety Podcast by Incident Prevention Magazine

Read the article - https://incident-prevention.com/blog/safety-by-design-human-and-organizational-performance/

In this installment of the Safety by Design podcast series, host Nick sits down with Pam Tompkins, President and CEO of SET Solutions, to explore the transformative philosophy of Human and Organizational Performance (HOP). Based on her latest article in Incident Prevention magazine, Pam breaks down why traditional, compl...

Recorded live from the IP Utility Safety Conference in Glendale, Arizona , this free-flowing conversation features Kate Wade of IP magazine , Billy Martin of Think Tank Project, LLC , and Brant Jeffries of Bierer Meters. The group discusses how conferences and networking change our perspectives , using analogies like Billy's "fire corn" and Heraclitus's river. They dive deep into the dangers of "reactiveness" , citing examples from...

In this incredibly moving and vital episode of Incident Prevention's Utility Safety Podcast, host Kate Wade is joined by Rob Duplain, a project superintendent, and Bill Martin, President of Think Tank LLC. The conversation centers on the critical issue of suicide, particularly within the utility and construction industries, sparked by a powerful LinkedIn post Rob wrote in honor of National Suicide Awareness Month. Rob shares his pr...

In this powerful episode of Incident Prevention's Utility Safety Podcast, host Kate Wade sits down with Tom Murphy, the founder and CEO of Sweethearts and Heroes. Tom shares the deeply personal journey that led him from the railroad industry and professional mixed martial arts to creating a vital organization focused on "upstream prevention" for mental health. He sheds light on the alarming suicide crisis within the utility sector,...

It’s not just downed lines and high voltage you need to watch out for during storm restoration. In the mud and floodwaters lies a hidden, deadly threat: flesh-eating bacteria. In this critical episode, we're talking about Necrotizing Fasciitis, a rare but devastating infection that can start from a tiny cut or scrape exposed to contaminated water. We break down what every line worker and utility professional needs to know—how to id...

In this episode of the Safety by Design, Nick sits down with Pam Tompkins, CUSP to discuss her recent article, "Safety by Design, Safety Management System Planning." This is the third installment of a six-part series where Pam delves into the critical role of planning in creating an effective safety management system (SMS). Pam explains why a proactive, systemic approach is essential for identifying and mitigating workplace hazards...

In this vital episode, host Kate Wade sits down with Jenny Lavin, the founder and CEO of the nonprofit Union Care Solutions, to tackle the pressing mental health crisis within the union electrical community. Jenny, a union wife and mother with deep family roots in the IBEW, shares the alarming statistics that prompted her to take action: in the construction industry, workers are five times more likely to be affected by a mental hea...

This episode of "The Deep Dive" explores the hidden dangers of using standard synthetic ropes in high-voltage environments and the shift towards true dielectric ropes. We discuss how traditional ropes can become conductive when exposed to moisture and contaminants, turning them into a serious safety hazard. We also cover the importance of rigorous testing, proper maintenance, and the barriers to adopting this life-saving technology...

In this episode of the Utility Safety Podcast, host Kate Wade sits down with Christian Connolly, CEO of Twiceme Technology, a Sweden-based smart safety company revolutionizing PPE with digital innovation. Christian shares his journey from fintech to safety tech, explains how wearable technology is transforming worker protection, and highlights Twiceme’s growing partnerships with leading PPE manufacturers like Bullard ...

Rethinking Risk: Safety Culture, Risk Tolerance, and Relationship-Driven Leadership

In this compelling episode, Mark Taylor, CUSP, Senior Advisor of Corporate Services at Primary Engineering and Construction, joins us to explore how utility professionals perceive and manage risk. Drawing from decades of field and leadership experience, Mark discusses how a worker’s risk tolerance evolves over time, the i...

In this episode of Incident Prevention’s Utility Safety Podcast, host Kate Wade sits down with Mark Savage, Marine Corps veteran and founder of DeadBreak — a specialized underground electrical training and consulting company. Mark shares his professional journey, the gaps he identified in underground utility training, and how DeadBreak aims to bridge those gaps by offering curriculum development, hands-on training, co...

In this episode of the Incident Prevention Utility Safety Podcast, host Kate Wade sits down with Jennifer LeFevre, Executive Director of the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), to explore how everyday decisions at work and at home can impact electrical safety. Jennifer shares insights into the mission of ESFI, the dangers of lithium-ion batteries, how utilities can access free safety resources, and why ...

In this powerful episode of the Utility Safety Podcast: Voice of Experience, veteran lineman and safety consultant Danny Raines, CUSP, shares hard-earned lessons from decades of storm response—from Hurricane Katrina to ice storms in Georgia. With hurricane season in full swing, Danny offers real-world guidance on preparing for storm duty, understanding system hazards, and staying mentally and physically resilient in t...

In this special Incident Prevention Utility Safety Podcast episode for Extreme Heat Awareness Month, host Kate Wade welcomes Dr. Kevin Rindal of Vimocity and Scott Head of DragonWear to share essential strategies for preventing heat stress among utility workers.

They dive deep into how extreme heat affects the human body, why utility workers are especially vulnerable, and how modern flame...

In this episode, we unpack the vital safety standards, OSHA regulations, and field-tested insights that govern bucket truck operations in the electric utility industry. Based on the article “Bucket Truck Safety: OSHA Standards and Other Considerations” by Danny Raines, CUSP, we dive into key differences between Class A and Class B trucks, daily control tests, fall protection, and the nuances of operating near energize...

In this episode of our Actionable Safety series, host Nick talks with Bill Martin and Kate Wade about moving beyond “safety noise” to create real, lasting change on the job. They dive deep into achieving buy-in through synchrony, overcoming defensiveness, and translating safety theory into real-world practice. With stories from climbing Mount Kenya to lessons learned in the utility industry, they explain how empathy, ...

In this episode, Incident Prevention’s Kate Wade sits down with Kaitlyn Albertoli, co-founder and CEO of California-based Buzz Solutions, to explore how visual intelligence is helping utilities uncover hidden risks and modernize critical infrastructure. Kaitlyn shares how Buzz Solutions’ platforms—PowerAI and PowerGuard—use AI-driven insights to streamline inspections, enhance grid reliability, and reduce operational ...

In this episode of Built In, Not Bolted On, host Doug Hill challenges traditional thinking around job safety practices. He explores the effectiveness of pre-job briefs, mid-day check-ins, and post-job reviews, emphasizing how learning from experience—especially at the end of the day—can dramatically improve safety outcomes. Drawing inspiration from aviation and military after-action reviews, Doug outlines how three si...

In this episode, we explore what an ancient shepherding metaphor can teach us about modern safety leadership. Inspired by The Good Shepherd, an article written by David McPeak, CUSP, CIT, CHST, CSP, CSSM for Incident Prevention magazine, we unpack how the timeless relationship between shepherd and sheep mirrors the dynamic between safety leaders and their teams. Through the lens of the C5 Safety Leadership Model—Compe...